(Visit Mixerman in his Rec Pit Forum )


Moderator: Welcome to tonight’s live chat session with Mixerman. Fire away!

2inchrules: Are you Fletcher?

Mixerman: I am not Fletcher.

Mcsnare: Have there been any more tests confirming or disproving the low-end issue of the PTHD (ProTools HD) system?

Mixerman: Hi McSnare, so far there has been one test that I know of. I have not heard the results of that test, and I question the method of the test. I am planning on doing another test in the very near future. In fact both Fletcher and I are arranging such a test, to be held in the near future. It will be videotaped for all to see. We just need to work out all the logistics.

digiengineer: Are you and Dave Carlock going to do a test?

Mixerman: I was supposed to do a test with Dave this week. I still want to do that test, but I have been scheduled to work last minute. I will be working out those logistics in the near future, as well.

drumsound: Two tests, or one with both you and Fletcher?

Mixerman: One test with both Fletcher, and myself and whomever else we deem necessary, to have people trust the test.

BetterMixr: How do you expect to have any credibility with two PT haters administering the test? Have you considered having an impartial third party oversee it?

Mixerman: Absolutely. In fact, that's the most important part of the test. Just to set the record straight about something... I don't hate digi (Digidesign), I could not care less about digi. What I care about is a product that I can use, and that will make my life easier, not more difficult.

Mixerman (continued): I am passionate about my opinions. When I did my initial tests, there was no malice, my intention was to see if their new product was worthy for the producer to pony up his money for. As it turns out, if everyone starts to record at 96, they’re not going to have much choice.

Miles: MM, thanks for all of your posts and advice, I really appreciate how you share your knowledge. What do you think about using processors like Cranesong HEDD or EL (Empirical Labs) Fatso with digital recording? Are they just like putting band-aids on gaping wounds?

Mixerman: Well, for starters my opinion of digital recording has changed over the last year or so, mostly because of Radar. It's the first digital multitrack that I'm prepared to move forward with using on a regular basis. I haven't used the Cranesong HEDD, but I have used the Fatso and I think it's a great tool. If it does what you want to your signal, then you should use it.

Mcsnare: Can the Radar converters hook directly to PT, or do I have to use PT converters or Apogees before the Radar?

Mixerman: Heh. This is why I criticize digi. One man's bash is another man's well thought-out criticism. Are you referring to the new HD or the old Alsihad? Never mind - either way, you need to tap into Digidesign’s converters. So you must first buy Digidesign’s converters and then buy converters that you enjoy. No matter how you slice it, I have a problem with this. If they made great converters, they wouldn't have to make it this way.

Henchman: Why doesn't digi do comparison tests with other systems? The only comparisons I've heard of them doing is Old PT vs. New PT.

Mixerman: Oh and I just love that one. I thought there was nothing wrong with the old system! In my test, I compared the Radar to the HD. But that wasn't my intent. The Radar ended up being more of a control to see if there was a cabling issue. What I want to hear is a transfer come back as close as possible to the source. Unfortunately with the HD there were egregious differences.

Pro Jules: What positive do you see coming out of all this?

Mixerman: I hope there are some positives. One positive is a personal one. I'm always hoping that enough people will get the message that we are all falling into the trap of planned obsolescence. I'm not sure if we can get out of that trap. I know people that are recording with the same 24 track machines they were using 30 years ago, and making records that sell in the millions.

Mixerman (continued): Cello has two Ampex machines in each room. But yet today's studio owner has to keep up to date every three years., all because digital is improving. But people will argue at all times that today's digital sounds close enough, yet we continue to improve?

mpdageek: Have you heard anything about some new products that do exact 1:1 digital copies of Radar Files into ProTools readable files? Namely Damsel by www.digitalaudiomiracles.com?

Mixerman: I'll be trying that product in the very near future. If it works, that will be great. It’s important for Radar to be as compatible with Alsihad as possible. People want to be able to edit like crazy and mix within the computer. Perhaps this will make communication easier.

Moderator: Nice plug for that company, there, Mr. Geek, slipping the URL in there. :-) There'll be no more of that!

Matthias: I noticed your consistent focus on arrangement issues when talking about mixing. Has this always been your focus or did you experience a development from being a "technical" mixer, more concerned about sounds, to a "producer" mixer, more concerned about arrangement?

Mixerman: I've never been a technical mixer. Far from it. I didn't really get into mixing from that end, I came from a songwriting side of life. I learned by recording my own songs. When you understand how a good song drives a person to the payoff and ultimately drives a person through the song, you start to realize that the arrangement does this as well.

Mixerman (continued): And so does the mix. The B section in a well-written song
will accelerate in rhythm, melodically or harmonically, providing lift to the B section. Well, a good arrangement will do the same thing. You need to excite the listener, and keep pushing them forward. That's the job of a good song, and we should not be counterproductive to that. We should enhance that. Great question.

drumsound: How so you get into the headspace/vibe of music that you are about to mix if you haven't been involved in the project up to that point?

Mixerman: I like to let it unfold slowly. Lately I've been pulling up the faders and checking out what I've got ahead of time. But I really like the surprise of lifting up one fader at a time and letting a production unfold for me. Then it's more like a book. I turn the page and a new surprise is waiting for me.

Mixerman (continued): Sometimes that helps me in deciding what's working and what's not. Because I hear something broken down in a way that I might not have explored on purpose. I'm a big proponent of allowing accidents to happen. Some of the greatest parts of a mix come by accident.